Wi-Fi is Under Attack!

The Threat: LTE-U

Wi-Fi is how we connect to the Internet and each other. Without it, we’d still be in the digital Dark Ages, chained to our desks by cords and unable to connect wherever and whenever we wanted to. Imagine having to go back to plugging into a wall whenever you need to get online.

Thankfully, you don’t have to. Using unlicensed spectrum and a simple Wi-Fi router, we’re free to connect throughout our homes, schools, businesses, libraries, shopping centers and even whole communities. Unfortunately, a few powerful companies want to take over these airwaves for themselves, potentially making public use unreliable. They have introduced a new technology – called LTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U) – that has been shown in some testing to cripple Wi-Fi and kick out other technologies that run over unlicensed airwaves. While LTE-U may be a boon to a handful of companies who would like you to pay more for their monthly cell phone plans, it creates a huge risk for Wi-Fi users. We need to be absolutely sure that LTE-U can co-exist without harming Wi-Fi before the technology is deployed.

You can help our efforts to prevent harm to Wi-Fi by sending a message that Wi-Fi is important to you!

Take action today!

How can you help? First, tell the FCC Wi-Fi is important to you. We’ve started a letter for you below that will be submitted in FCC docket 15-105 but feel free to personalize it as you see fit. Second, share this message with your friends and family.

To learn more about how people, products and services are using Wi-Fi, follow us on our social sites for regular updates.

Resources

How does Wi-Fi work? Seems like magic, but Wi-Fi runs over unlicensed spectrum. “Unlicensed spectrum” is a term used to describe radio frequencies that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allows consumers to use without needing to buy a license. Any innovator or consumer can use unlicensed spectrum just by following straightforward technical rules—without having to comply with a maze of regulations that apply to licensed services or needing to spend millions of dollars at a government auction. This low-regulation system enables innovators to deliver millions of products and services, such as Wi-Fi hotspots, medical equipment, industrial/logistics/inventory systems, wireless headsets, baby monitors, cordless phones, remote car door openers, RFID technologies and wireless keyboards.